From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cracker is an American alternative rock band featuring Johnny Hickman and Camper Van Beethoven singer and guitarist David Lowery. They are best known for the hit songs "Low," "Eurotrash Girl," "Get Off This" and "Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)". In 1993, Cracker contributed the song "Good Times Bad Times" to the Encomium tribute album to Led Zeppelin (which was recorded after their rendition of "When the Levee Breaks" was deemed "too weird").

Cracker mixes influences and sounds ranging from classic country music, psychedelia, punk and folk into their brand of "Americana" style rock.

Shortly after Camper Van Beethoven called it quits in 1990, Lowery began demoing material along with guitarist Johnny Hickman and bassist Davey Faragher, eventually going by the name Cracker.

By 1991, the newly formed band had signed a recording contract with Virgin Records and enlisted the help of several drummers/percussionists (Jim Keltner, Rick Jaeger, and Phil Jones), issuing their self-titled debut in 1992. A year later, Cracker issued their best-known album, Kerosene Hat, which spawned the hit "Low."

Cracker's underlings underwent numerous personnel changes during the late 90s and early 2000s. The group left Metropolis Records in 2003 with the independent release Countrysides. A collaboration with bluegrass band Leftover Salmon, Oh Cracker, Where Art Thou? (2003), contained bluegrass versions of old Cracker songs.

Their newest studio album Greenland was released on June 6, 2006.

• David Lowery - Guitar/Vocals (1990-Present)
• Johnny Hickman - Lead Guitar (1990-Present)
• Frank Funaro - Drums (1996-Present)
• Sal Maida - Bass (2006-Present)

• Davie Faragher - Bass (1990-1993)
• Bob Rupe - Bass (1994-2000)
• Brandy Wood - Bass (2000-2004)
• Victor Krummenacher - Bass (2004-2006)
• Joe Frezza - Guitar (1996-1997)
• Phil Jones - Drums (1990-1994)
• Johnny Hott - Drums (1994-1996)
• David Lovering - Drums

Albums:

• Cracker (1992)
• Kerosene Hat (1993)
• The Golden Age (1996)
• Gentleman's Blues (1998)
• Forever (2002)
• O' Cracker Where Art Thou? (2003)
• Countrysides (2003)
• Greenland (2006)

Singles & EPs:

• "Teen Angst" (1992)
• "Tucson" (1993)
• "Low" (1993)
• "Get Off This" (1994)
• "Euro-Trash Girl" (1994)
• "I Hate My Generation" (1996)
• "Nothing To Believe In" (1996)
• "The Good Life" (1998)
• "The World Is Mine" (1998)
• "Shine" (2002)
• "Merry Christmas, Emily" (2002)
• "Something You Ain't Got" (2006)
• "Give Me One More Chance" (2006)
• "Everybody Gets One For Free" (2006)

Compilations:

• The Virgin Years (1995) with Camper Van Beethoven
• Garage D'Or (2000) 2 disc Greatest Hits Album and oddities collection
• Hello, Cleveland! Live at the Metro (2002)
• Get On With It: The Best of Cracker (2006) Virgin Records greatest hits collection (Not authorized by the band)
• Greatest Hits Redux (2006) Band authorized re-recordings of major hits

Tributes:

• If I Were A Carpenter (1994) - "Rainy Days and Mondays"
• Encomium: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin (1995) - "Good Times Bad Times"
• Burning London: The Clash Tribute (1999) - "White Riot"
• This Is Where I Belong: The Songs of Ray Davies & The Kinks (2002) - "Victoria"

• Official Website
• Johnny Hickman
• Band Cracker Gives Virgin Records The Finger
• myspace.com/crackerhatesmyspace
• Frank Funaro
• Camper Van Beethoven
• Pitch-A-Tent Records
• Sound of Music Studios
• Live Music Archive
• The Van
• Interview and performance on Corporate Country Sucks TV Show
• Johnny Hickman interview with Tony DuShane on Drinks with Tony
• Sidi Ifni